Team Rocket Blasts Off!

Team Rocket Blasts Off!
File:Teamrocketblastsoff.jpg
ISBN:	9780439154185
Published:	January 2000
Publisher:	Scholastic
Author:	Tracey West
Preceded By:	Night in the Haunted Tower
Succeeded By:	Charizard, Go!

Team Rocket Blasts Off! by Tracey West is the fifth book in the adaption of the Pokémon anime. It focuses on the Team Rocket trio of Jessie, James, and Meowth. It was published by Scholastic, and is 87 pages in length.

Spoiler warning: this article may contain major plot or ending details.

Synopsis

This novel follows the basic plot of The Battle of the Badge but expands the story to include flashbacks from Team Rocket's past.

When Team Rocket steals Misty's Togepi and presents it to Giovanni, he is upset because the baby Pokémon is not useful to him. But before Giovanni can scold the trio, he receives an urgent call about trouble with his ultimate Pokémon. He hurries out of the room, reluctantly putting Jessie, James, and Meowth in charge of the Viridian Gym. In their excitement, Togepi wanders away.

While searching for Togepi in the basement of the gym, the trio stumble upon a computer database of Team Rocket's members. While reading their files, the trio reminisce about one of their first battles with Ash, their fashion salon scam, and their encounter with Todd Snap. Frustrated by their failures, the trio decide to disband.

As the three Rockets storm away from each other, they realize that their experiences with Team Rocket may have given them many hardships, but they have also had good times with each other and become close friends. Reunited, the trio decide to go back upstairs and run the Gym.

Meanwhile, Ash and his friends continue their search for Togepi. When they finally find it, they run into Gary, who has been beaten by an unknown, incredibly powerful Pokémon of Giovanni's. As they ponder what kind of Pokémon it must be, the reunited Team Rocket trio reappear.

Team Rocket explain to Ash that they are currently the Gym Leaders, much to his shock. They challenge Ash to a battle with Pokémon owned by the Gym, but there is a twist: every time one of Ash's Pokémon takes damage, Ash is inflicted with pain too. At first the battle is looking good for Team Rocket, but when Ash's Squirtle attacks and Jessie is shocked, they realize that they accidentally left the pain shocker on their side too. Eventually, Team Rocket loses the battle and are forced to award Ash the Earth Badge. The story ends with Team Rocket blasting off again, vowing to one day capture Pikachu.

Blurb

Prepare for Trouble!
And make it double! When Team Rocket's boss leaves Jessie and James in charge, they become Gym Leaders. And Team Rocket doesn't fight fair.
Jessie and James are determined to finally defeat Ash and get their hands on his Pikachu. No matter what it takes.

Major Events

• Jessie, James, and Meowth become the temporary leaders of Viridian Gym.
• Ash gets the Earth Badge.
• Jessie, James, and Meowth disband, but come back together.

Debuts

Pokémon Debuts

• Mewtwo (Giovanni's) (identity unknown to the protagonists)

Characters

Humans

• Ash
• Misty
• Brock
• Jessie
• James
• Giovanni
• Gary
• Gary's cheerleaders

Pokémon

• Pikachu (Ash's)
• Meowth (Team Rocket)
• Togepi (Misty's)
• Machamp (Giovanni's)
• Rhydon (Giovanni's)

Trivia

• The page numbers on this book have a picture of Meowth next to them instead of the usual image of Pikachu. This is likely due to the book focusing on Team Rocket and not Ash and his friends. However, in Prepare for Trouble, the next book focusing on Team Rocket, the Meowth images are not used.

Errors

• On page 77, the image displays a Pidgeot and a Nidoking. Neither of these Pokémon appear in the book otherwise; the Pokémon displayed should have been a Pidgeotto and a Rhydon instead.
  • Similarly, a Krabby appears on page 63, though Krabby does not make an appearance in the book. Instead, the image should have been of a Kingler.

In other languages

• Canadian French: Team Rocket à l'attaque
• Polish: Zespół R w akcji

Pokémon animated series novelizations Indigo League: I Choose You! • Island of the Giant Pokémon • Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon • Night in the Haunted Tower Team Rocket Blasts Off! • Charizard, Go! • Splashdown in Cerulean City • Return of the Squirtle Squad Adventures in the Orange Islands: Journey to the Orange Islands • Secret of the Pink Pokémon • The Four-Star Challenge • Scyther, Heart of a Champion Race to Danger • Talent Showdown • Psyduck Ducks Out • Thundershock in Pummelo Stadium The Johto Journeys: Go West, Young Ash • Ash Ketchum, Pokémon Detective • Prepare for Trouble • Battle for the Zephyr Badge The Chikorita Challenge • All Fired Up • Ash to the Rescue • Secrets of the GS Ball • Prize Pokémon Teaming Up With Totodile • Tough Enough • Winner Takes All Ruby and Sapphire: Haunted! • Phantom Unmasked • Team Rocket Truce • Celebi Rescue • Grovyle Trouble • Deoxys in Danger Diamond and Pearl: Pokémon Academy • The Lost Riolu • Coal Badge Battle • World of Sinnoh Movies: The Art of Pokémon The First Movie • The Art of Pokémon the Movie 2000 • The Art of Pokémon the Movie 3: Spell of the Unown Mewtwo Strikes Back • Mewtwo Returns • Pokémon the Movie 2000 • Pokémon the Movie 3 • Pokémon 4Ever Destiny Deoxys • Lucario and the Mystery of Mew • Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea • The Rise of Darkrai Pikachu's Vacation • Pikachu's Rescue Adventure • Pikachu and Pichu

This book article is part of Project Merchandise, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on all Pokémon toys, dolls, books, and collectible merchandise.